Castleford Tigers: Powell hails awesome Tigers run

COACH DARYL Powell has described Castleford Tigers’ recent run as “awesome”.

Tigers are guaranteed a top-eight spot in First Utility Super League following yesterday’s 34-20 home win over Widnes Vikings.

Cas are fifth in the table, just two points behind second-placed St Helens and yesterday’s victory came two days after the green light was given for Tigers’ proposed new stadium.

“We have to be pleased that we are looking pretty strong at this stage in the season,” Powell said.

“We will look for some improvements, but the players deserve a lot of credit for getting us into this position with three games to go (in the regular season), especially after we lost our first three games.

“We have won our last five and that is awesome. In that block we have played Saints, Leeds and Hull KR away and won them all and that is fantastic. “I am really pleased with the whole club and for the whole club, that we’ve been able to back up from last year – and the stadium news is another massive lift for everybody.”

Cas led 18-0 against Widnes after 25 minutes and 24-10 at half-time, but failed to kick on in the face second half thunderstorm.

“It got a little bit uncomfortable,” Powell admitted. “We got a sin-bin and then the rain changed the whole context of the game, but I always thought we had them just far enough away. “I thought we should have been better in the second half. We didn’t kick the ball well and we didn’t take a couple of opportunities we got.

“Our skill level was a bit off and we couldn’t quite get the game nailed. I thought it should have been nailed a little bit earlier than it was.”

Forward Nathan Massey is due to undergo a scan on an ankle injury suffered in the first half.